VCVioCodes
Carrier Vetting Report
Generated Oct 4, 2026
viocodes.yuriance.net
MERCHANTS METALS LLC
USDOT 283413 · EIN 74-1622891
1200 ABERNATHY RD NE SUITE 1600, ATLANTA, GA, 30328
(832) 937-5659 · MICHAEL PADGETT
92
Low risk
Risk factors
4 crashes in the last 24 months
Snapshot
Operating authority
—
Liability insurance
No active filing
Safety rating
Satisfactory
Power units / drivers
80 / 82
Inspections / CSA pts (24mo)
126 / 549
Crashes (24 mo)
4
Roadside inspection performance
Vehicle OOS rate17.1% · nat 22%
Driver OOS rate0.8% · nat 6.7%
CSA breakdown — violations by BASIC
Vehicle Maintenance399 pts
Unsafe Driving117 pts
Other28 pts
Hours-of-Service Compliance18 pts
Driver Fitness15 pts
Not in SMS1 pts
Top cited violations (by CSA points)
| Code | BASIC | Count | OOS | CSA pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 393.75A3-TAOL | Vehicle Maintenance | 4 | 4 | 80 |
| 393.110B2II-C | Vehicle Maintenance | 3 | 3 | 45 |
| 392.2-SLLTCD | Unsafe Driving | 4 | 40 | |
| 393.207F-SDAS | Vehicle Maintenance | 2 | 2 | 27 |
| 393.100B-C | Vehicle Maintenance | 2 | 2 | 27 |
| 393.110B2I-C | Vehicle Maintenance | 3 | 3 | 25 |
| 393.9A-LFTSI | Vehicle Maintenance | 3 | 24 | |
| 392.16-D | Unsafe Driving | 2 | 21 | |
| 392.2-SLLS2 | Unsafe Driving | 2 | 16 | |
| 396.3A1-STLN | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 1 | 16 |
Most inspected states
CA23
NC13
TX9
FL9
MD8
IN6
SC6
WA6
Next monthly SMS run — projection
| BASIC | Official (Sep 2026) | Projected | Est. %ile | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe Driving | 1.24 | 1.27 | ≈13–20% | ▲ worse |
| Hours-of-Service Compliance | 0.07 | 0.07 | ≈15–22% | steady |
| Driver Fitness | 0.06 | 0.06 | — | steady |
| Controlled Substances/Alcohol | 0.00 | 0.00 | ≈0–0% | steady |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 2.86 | 2.83 | ≈33–37% | ▼ better |
Latest inspection 2026-09-17 · 1 new since the Sep 2026 run. “Projected” recomputes the SMS formula on today’s record — an estimate, not an official FMCSA figure. “Est. %ile” is a VioCodes estimate of how the carrier ranks against its peers (FMCSA marks the percentile itself “Not Public”), shown as a likely range.
Recommendations — what's driving each score
Following / lane / reckless violations are the leading contributor to Unsafe Driving · low impact
Following / lane / reckless 50% · Seat belt 24% · Speeding 14%
• Defensive-driving refresher on following distance and lane discipline
Projected: could improve up to 10 pts in ~12 months if worked down.
Following / lane / reckless violations are the leading contributor to Hours-of-Service Compliance · low impact
Following / lane / reckless 78% · Log / ELD device 17% · False log / RODS 6%
• Defensive-driving refresher on following distance and lane discipline
Projected: could improve up to 10 pts in ~12 months if worked down.
Controlled Substances/Alcohol needs attention · low impact
• Review recent inspections with violations in this BASIC and take remedial action with drivers/equipment
Load securement violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance · low impact
Load securement 33% (12 OOS) · Tires 22% (4 OOS) · Lighting / lamps 14%
• Carry extra straps/chains and know the working-load-limit math; re-check in the first 50 miles
• Prioritize the out-of-service items — they carry the heaviest weight
Projected: could improve up to 18 pts in ~12 months if worked down.
Generated from the public inspection record. Percentiles/projections are VioCodes estimates, not official FMCSA figures.
90-day safety improvement plan
Last 90 days: 22 inspections, 7 violations, 2 OOS, 18 clean · improving.
1. Vehicle Maintenance3 viol · 2 OOS · 43%
393.75A3-TAOL, 393.110B2I-C, 393.95A4-EENA
✓ Gauge/thump every tire on the walk-around, including inner duals
✓ Replace before tread hits the limit and correct low pressure immediately
≈ 17 clean inspections would cut this BASIC ~25% (to 2.145).
2. Unsafe Driving2 viol · 29%
392.2-SLLTCD ×2
✓ Walk the lights every pre-trip and carry spare bulbs/fuses
✓ Clean lenses and check the trailer plug for corrosion
≈ 26 clean inspections would cut this BASIC ~25% (to 0.93).
3. Driver Fitness1 viol · 14%
383.71H
✓ Track CDL, medical card, and endorsement expirations ahead of time
✓ Keep the DQ file complete and the medical card on the driver
≈ 26 clean inspections would cut this BASIC ~25% (to 0.045).
Repeat offenders: 392.2-SLLTCD ×2
🎓 Coach the driver & document it
FleetTrained — my companion project — turns these exact violations into branded, multilingual training videos your driver watches, with a completion certificate for the DQ file. fleettrained.com
Crash record — 4 in 24 months
| Date | Location | Fatal | Inj | Tow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/07/2026 | URBANDALE, IA | 1 | ✓ | |
| 03/17/2026 | ASHEBORO, NC | 1 | ||
| 03/28/2025 | BUTNER, NC | ✓ | ||
| 01/07/2025 | AUSTIN, TX | 1 | ✓ |
Equipment — 64 vehicles seen in inspections
29 trailer27 truck8 incomplete vehicle
Company profile
Officer
MICHAEL PADGETT
Annual mileage
3.4M mi (2025)
CDL drivers
82
Registered since
1986-12-08
Operation
Interstate
Connections — 22 carriers
Shares identifiers with 22 carriers (16 via shared VINs).
| Carrier | USDOT | Link | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFS LLC | 758105 | officer, email | strong |
| BINFORD SUPPLY LLC | 1322360 | officer, email, address | strong |
| CAPITAL WHOLESALE FENCE LLC | 262019 | officer, email, address | strong |
| FDS DISTRIBUTORS INC | 1065535 | strong | |
| FENCING SUPPLY GROUP ACQUISITIONS LLC | 3912511 | officer, mailing, email, address | strong |
| SHARON FENCE COMPANY | 475791 | officer, email, address | strong |
Activity history (recent)
01/05/2026 — MCS-150 update filed
3.4M mi reported (2025)
12/08/1986 — Registered with FMCSA
PRIVATE PROPERTY
Generated by VioCodes from current public FMCSA data (Census, Licensing & Insurance, SMS/MCMIS, QCMobile). VioCodes is not affiliated with FMCSA. Informational only — verify current coverage and status directly before making a vetting decision. Full interactive profile at viocodes.yuriance.net/carrier/283413.